View full sizeThe 2013 Old Saginaw City Lawn Chair Film Festival opened with "Life of Pi." Sammy Jo Hester | MLive.com

SAGINAW, MI – As the Old Saginaw City Lawn Chair Film Festival reels into its 12th season, opening with "American Hustle" at dusk Sunday, June 29, Arlene Maul is ready to roll.

"I'm having a blast," said Maul, who with her late husband Bob first came up with the idea in 2003 of beaming a free movie on the wall of a brick building at Ames and North Hamilton.

"I like our season a lot and, most exciting of all, are the fresh faces we have helping us this year. They're terrific people, young professionals like Jennifer Bolt who bring new ideas to the mix."

And deciding on everything from the Audrey Hepburn classic "Breakfast at Tiffany's" to Mel Brooks' "Young Frankenstein" and the new "The Grand Budapest Hotel" at Fralia's, the restaurant Bolt and her husband Adam run in Old Town, meant no one left the meetings hungry, Maul added.

Peter Brian Barry is another who stepped into a bigger role this season, along with Alexander Danks and Donna Branch-Cottrell, who with her husband Larsen has spearheaded renovations in the district.

"There was really a sense of community about it all, moving beyond what was basically helping with the production. These are people who will eventually take it over or at least always be involved. I see them taking more of a role in the future."

Local musicians are back, with Andrew Kitzman performing about an hour before the first show, and the Bull's Eye Band, Scott Baker and the Old Town Saginaw Music Association's Saginaw River Logjam returning later in the run. New this year is Count N' Change and Mama 'Mokey and the Smokey Lynx.

"It's fun to be a part of a community project like this," said Kitzman, who performed last year as well. "I'm Saginaw born and raised and it was kind of an honor to be out there with families and everything."

Professionally, he's doing the same thing these days, picking up a regular gig at White's Bar where he's playing the quirky music he's always loved.

"Come on out and have fun," he said. "It's fun for me, too."

Hot dogs, brats and popcorn are back, too, or people can bring in their own snacks. Watch, too, for a costume contest when "The Big Lebowski" hits the screen July 27.

"We're going to see a lot of bathrobes and bowling shirts," Maul predicted, though a properly dressed Viking princess might take the prize.

"My goal is to keep it as it was meant to be from the beginning, a place where you can catch independent films and foreign films and the odd and quirky ones we all want to see again."

They're also continuing the improvement made over the years, including cooperation with the Saginaw police department and upholding the rule that youth 17 and younger must attend with an adult.

"Everyone is so excited," Maul said. "One of the most ingenious films is 'Dancing Queen,' a Korean film I first saw at the Traverse City Film Festival. It's a comedy, funny in an entertaining way and a little quirky. And we're getting 'X-Men: Days of Future Past' before it even comes out on DVD.

"But I think everyone knows 'The Big Lebowski' is the big draw. That one has a huge cult following."

Next up, she said, is a Kickstarter campaign to replace the screen, projector and sound system.

"We repaired the screen after it tore last year and we can get another season out of it," Maul said. "But I think this festival is going to keep going for a while and it's time to do some upgrading."

Here is the line-up of films and musicians for the 2014 Old Saginaw City Lawn Chair Film Festival. Films begin at dusk every Sunday at Ames and North Hamilton but you'll want to come an hour early to hear the musical guests. For more information, go to the Lawn Chair Film Festival Facebook page:

June 29 – "American Hustle," following Andrew Kitzman

July 6 – "Breakfast at Tiffany's," performers to be announced

July 13 – "Young Frankenstein," following Old Town Saginaw Music Association's Saginaw River Logjam

July 20 – "The Grand Budapest Hotel," performers to be announced

July 27 – "The Big Lebowski," following Mama 'Mokey and the Smokey Lynx